Mileage for mandatory toll-paying heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) with a minimum of four axles traveling on federal autobahns declined by 0.7 percent in April 2026 compared to March 2026, adjusted for both seasonal and calendar variations. According to reports issued Friday by the Federal Office for Logistics and Mobility (BALM) and the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), the seasonally and calendar-adjusted index for HGV toll mileage was 0.8 percent below the level recorded in April 2025. The report noted that economic activity both generates and requires various levels of transport services. Consequently, a clear correlation exists between the HGV toll mileage index and key indices of economic activity, particularly industrial production. Because the HGV index is generally available a month ahead of the main production index, it serves as a useful leading indicator for tracking economic trends. However, Destatis cautioned that it is currently not possible to provide a breakdown of the data by specific economic sectors.
Truck Traffic Drops Slightly on German Autobahns in April
